Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says it was an ‘easy decision’ to select Bruno Fernandes on the bench for Manchester United’s clash against West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Rashford and Fernandes both start on the bench with Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood coming into the starting XI.
Solskjaer confirmed that Fernandes has been nursing a sore foot since the dramatic comeback victory against Southampton last weekend.
But the Portuguese playmaker has been rested this evening and Solskjaer hopes he won’t need to utilise him against the Hammers.
“Bruno’s [Fernandes] foot has been sore since the Southampton game,” he told MUTV pre-match, as quoted by Utdreport.
“The decision was easy to keep him out, hopefully I don’t have to use him tonight.
“With Marcus [Rashford] and Bruno [Fernandes], they’re two important players for us.
“They’ve been kicked between here and there lately.”
Fernandes has started 23 consecutive Premier League games since his arrival in January but that run finally comes to an end against David Moyes’ side.
Often considered indispensable, Fernandes will be a big loss in what promises to be a tough test against in-form West Ham.
But the Reds have the opportunity to prove they are not over-reliant on the 26-year-old and Donny van de Beek can prove himself in an advanced midfield role.
Van de Beek will support an exciting front three of Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani.
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